It’s November, and at the Fortune Theatre that means another Roger Hall pantomime.

Jack’s an amiable oaf who fancies himself as a poet. He lives with his mother, a garish widow, in rural poverty somewhere near Mosgiel. Hounded by creditors and wicked landlady Gorganzola Stilton (who happens to have a sweet and resourceful daughter named Paris), the pair are forced into desperate measures involving their cow and some
beans and – well, you know the rest.

Friday night’s sponsored audience consisted entirely of adults, and everyone loved it. There are loads of topical allusions (politics, Kiwisaver, OSH, the stadium and so on) and a degree of political incorrectness that never quite descends into tastelessness. But there’s plenty for kids too. They’ll enjoy the picture-book sets, colourful costumes, constant surprises and heaps of fun.

Actors Ashley Hawkes, David McPhail, Amy Tarleton, Cheryl Amos, Marisiale Tunoka and Sia Trokenheim are kept busy piling up the laughs, and Danny Still is a particular joy as repo man Claude Back, which he plays in the style of Marcel Marceau, with Carmen Miranda tendencies. Brendan van den Berg has a lovely little cameo role as a Cinderella
who’s turned up on the wrong night.

Music by Michael Nicholas Williams combines with lyrics by Paul Jenden and musical direction and performance by Stuart Walker to provide catchy songs and witty accompaniment to the action, and dances choreographed by Sara Georgie Tunoka are neatly and enthusiastically executed.

Directed by Stuart Devenie, this is a more polished and satisfying offering than last year’s Aladdin. The show is well paced and there’s some, but not excessive, audience participation.

As a treat for families, or an end-of-year outing for adults, Jack and the Beanstalk is sure to find favour.
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For a young boy at his first "big show" this was one meeean Stalk! Here’s how our six year old saw it:

I loved the bit when the mime, Claude Back, took back all the Mother’s chairs and she kept falling over – I laughed so much! And when Paris and Jack almost got married by mistake and they kissed….yuck!!

I hated the Goose – my Dad loved the Goose – he said she had good honks (and laid golden eggs…). The castle of the Giant (Stuart Devenie) was pretty cool ….he had a BIG voice and even bigger boots ….and David McPhail was brilliant and very funny as the Mother.

Some lucky people got to go on stage at Interval and experience the credit crunchie Cadbury-style.  I was too shy, but you should try it! And I found out they sell really yummy ice creams….

The best character was Jack (Ashley Hawkes) – he was awesome – and Paris Stilton (Sia Trockenheim) – she was very pretty. Mrs Stilton (Cheryl Amos) was so mean to Jack and his mother! Immigration Officer (Marisiale Tunoka) was the same as Bob the Butcher and he was very cool. Claude Back (Danny Still) was really, really sneaky, and Betsy (Amy Tarleton) the cow had this incredible makeover. The weighing machine (Dougal Stevenson) was kind of rude!

It was a great show and I loved going with my Dad – and the best thing was we were allowed to shout out at Claude!

Slapstick humour at its best – Jack and the Beanstalk is a great spectacle and real  family pleaser. This show transcends the age barrier!!…and Roger Hall creates a whole new generation of fans J
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